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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2017 Apr 1.
Published in final edited form as: Semin Respir Crit Care Med. 2016 Mar 14;37(2):277–288. doi: 10.1055/s-0036-1578801

Table 3.

Key points for HIV specialists caring for those with COPD

  • Smokers or those exposed to biomass smoke should be asked about cough, sputum, and exercise limitations

  • Those at risk and with symptoms should undergo spirometry and (consider DLCO testing)

  • Those with COPD should be treated with short-acting bronchodilators (albuterol, ipratropium bromide); other agents to consider are long-acting β-agonists, long-acting anticholinergics, and inhaled corticosteroids

  • Beclomethasone is the safest inhaled corticosteroid in ART regimens containing ritonavir or cobicistat

Abbreviations: ART, antiretroviral therapy; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; DLCO, carbon monoxide diffusing capacity.